Is the swayback jack Case's best current (regular) production knife?

Eric H

Eric H

Joined
Jul 15, 1999
Messages
541
I'm not really a huge Case fan, but every time I pick up my swayback jack, I'm amazed at the quality--fit and finish, design, metal, walk and talk--all perfect.

Awhile before picking up the SBJ, I had bought one of the Case/Bose sow belly stockmans, and while I like the pattern, I've never been overwhelmed with it. I never even carry it anymore (it's promised to my oldest, so I retired it a long time back.) Very weak snap on the sowbelly.

I also once owned one of the Tony Bose serpentine jacks, and honestly, I just found it to be on par with the SBJ.

Now, hoping for a similar experience as the SBJ, I thought maybe size had something to do with it, so I ordered a CV medium stockman (one of the small "medium" models--why does Case make 2 different sizes of "medium" stockman anyway?). While I like it, it still has a weak spring out of the box. To me, there's no let down quite like a weaker than expected snap on a traditional knife.

So, is the Sway Back Jack Case's best production knife?
 
and here i was going to say (surprise surprise) that the texas jack takes that title :D

and because this thread needs moar pics

 
The SBJ I've had my hands on were very good quality but the best one Case production knife I've had was a black G10 humpback whittler with the as ground blade finish. It was outstanding in every way.
 
Rsmith_77 said:
and here i was going to say (surprise surprise) that the texas jack takes that title :D

and because this thread needs moar pics

Click to expand...

I looked very closely at those, but ended up going with the (small) medium stockman. If the Texas Jack was 1/2" shorter, I would've gone with it.
 
That curved bolster shape at the pivot bothers me for some reason.

I actually have and love 5 or 6 Camillus Pony jacks (size of a peanut, but frame of a trapper).

I guess I'm just looking for other patterns with the same dimensions and stout - Ness of the swayback jack.

The GEC conductor looks to be about right (but this thread is about Case knives!)
 
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